In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The thriller genre is aimed to have the viewer on the edge of their seat, and this can be done using a variety of methods. Quick cuts are one of the most commonly used conventions as they enhance the idea of time running out, and create pace. This helps the audience to empathise with the victim as you begin to see that time is running out, and something bad will happen to them unless the problem is resolved fast. Typically, there will be obstacles in the way to prevent the victim from resolving the problem, which in turn creates tension and fear. The use of shadow / dim lighting (like the shower scene in the film ‘Psycho’) is used a lot in thrillers because it gives the perception that you are not alone or that you are being watched, which makes the victim look weak and vulnerable. I used both of these methods in my own piece of work because I felt it would make them as true to real media products as I could make them. The storyline I had created fitted in perfectly with the way I used these methods because I created the perfect tense atmosphere within the scenes where the bomber is meeting up with the arms dealer to purchase the bomb. I felt the shadows were effective because they showed it was just the three men there, and it would be easy to see if anyone was approaching them, which enhances the fact that they were breaking several laws.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Typically in thrillers, it is the norm to have a woman / teenager as the victim, or sometimes even children. By using these stereotypes, the viewer can empathise even further than they could if it was a big tattooed man, for instance. In my piece however, I used all male characters. I did this to break the stereotype and try to make my piece unique but sticking to the genre’s themes. My work was representing men who live a life of crime in order to get back at the people who refused them and made them live this certain lifestyle. By using the son of the mayor, I believe more empathy can be felt as it is saying ‘instead of taking your life, I will take your heir’s instead’. I tried to show the criminal side of the world, as apposed to the busy, working side.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
My media is based heavily on similar themes to the film ‘Die Hard’ starring Bruce Willis playing a detective whose job it is to save 12 hostages who are being kept inside the Nakatomi building. This film was distributed by 20th Century Fox, so I believe that the same company would distribute my work as it follows the same Genre.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
Mainly people who enjoy stories with twists in them as they such empathy for whoever the victim is. Students, I have discovered, enjoy thrillers more than other films as they enjoy allowing themselves to become scared and on edge as they get a small adrenaline rush from it. I am aiming my work at students as this genre fits in with their viewing pleasures better than say someone of 35 – 60.
How did you attract or address your audience?
In my peice I feel I attracted my target audience well by using some of the key conventions that make a thriller. Firstly, I used darkness to give a true sense of unknowing and vulnerability. Darkness is also used to portray power of a bad nature so I felt it would be ideal. Also, I used white screen jumps to show illegal ongoings throughout time. These were all necessary in attracting my audience to the film.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
To begin, I have learned how to use Adobe Premier in order to edit film in great detail. This has enabled me to add effects and transitions to film, without having to do it manually using anologue film and camera tricks. As well as this, I have become very comfortable setting up video cameras and additional add ons such as tripods, microphones and extension lenses. The key thing about these items is that you can improve the quality of the film as you have no shake with a tripod, you can get to those hard - to - reach places and you can do it all in the cover of darkness. I have also been taught in how to compress video files so that they can be easily transported around the computer and on the web. Embedding video URL's (Uniform Resource Locator) onto my blog has become a simple task where before i didn't know how to do it.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product?
I have learnt that I need to keep to strict deadlines and not to leave things to the last minute otherwise my work can be rushed and I won't be able to gain top marks I need to complete the media studies course. I have learned how certain camera angles can be really effective in certain scenarios when filming. Making sure I put in my best effort is also critical otherwise the work can be messy, disorganised and non logical.
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